Wichita eagle., 1887-04-10
1ai19 eagle
A JAPANESE FAMILY.
ANOBLC FATHER, A TENDER MOTHER
AND LOVELY CHILDREN.

Careful Training of tho Sons and Dough
ters-Several Interesting Customs-sey
erent Beliefs of Many Generations.
Pile Of Charms.
In this homo an eI-dairnio and famil
dwelled, with whom | exchanged frequen
hospitalities during my sojourn in Japan
As / was one OF the family in which th
daimio's youngest brother and eldest soi
had found home while pursuing thci
education in America, l was cordially re
ceived by the ex-prince in turn. The fam
lily then consisted of his wife, two littl,
girls, two grown daughters, and three son
ono baby-and the grandmother Of thcst
children-a charming old lady thTot
nurses, and large retilue Of servants.
Ths father was noble specimen ci devo
ton to his country, yet, withal, an apostle
Of progress He was one of the many who
had consented to the destruction of the OLD
government, and had voluntarily Welded
his revenues and title without q rnurmur
for the public good. The lady mother and
eldest daughter were peers of tho Indies o.
any land in their love Of beauty, ornament
elegant dress, and neatness, and in theiI
skill in household management, as well &c il
those social amenities and tactics of polite
circles that etiquette prescribes.
This mother was IS strong in tenderness.
patience and long suffering; for and with her
children as her European or American sis
tiers; and equally faithful and assiduous in
their training and education, according to
her knowledge. She taught her daughters
hnr r,an+bar l.al h. +1,o
three fundamental duties OF woman are
obedience to her parents when child, obo-
dience TO her husband when married, and
obedience to her eldest son, If she becomes a
widow.
She Glso instructed them from the Japan
ess Ladies' Library, which is q cornpon-
dunn of the moral and physical duties Of
woman. 1t includes the subjects OF house
hold and social management, rules for tho
stricteSt etiquette, guide to letter writ
Ing, proverbs, poems from a hundred au-
thors, memoirs of noble women, and order
ing for the whole conduct of life They
were ikowise taught to read the standard
histories Of Japan in Chinese characters, and
both boys and girls were thoroughly drilled
in the traditionary heroic, and mytholcgi-
cal lore of their own land
Tho sons were trained to manly sports
and exploits. and their ambition fired by
historic tales OF heroes. They wero urged
to overcome obstacles, by the symbol over
the massive outer door, where swung the
huge paper carp suspended from bamboo
pole, ever reminding the youth of Japan how
the carp leaps the waterfall These lads
were also Taught natural sciences and mill
tary tactics, from English and Dutch au-
thors. Often in their half HOLIDAYS have
found them constructing miniature earth
works, by the aid of book, diagram and
trowel
Then cs,no tie tutor with lessons in fene,-
Mg and wrestling, and the use of cross
spears and swords, in the handling of which
they became marvelously expert The father
instructed the sons in the Chinese classic,
himself and stimulated their young souls
by tales of classic lore
One of the interesting customs | thus
learned Of IN tue life of this house was that
OF tho many festivals-the Feast Of the
Dolls for tie daughters of the house, when
year after year tho great nursaI-y was
declled with blooming bows. and tho 1,auy
toys in which Japan abounds, while pretty
mimic life CT motherhood and houseIleep;uc
prevailed for one whole day; Of the Feast
OF the Banners, when the boys were marched
out in triumph to the streets, with e,nblaz- |
oned banners to enact q mimic war. os tho |
New Years day, when prince and retain |
ers, master and servants, pledged anew
their devotion TO each Other, and recei ed |
gifts Of good things; of tho religious les |
tIvals, When the masters household, Ike o |
great heart, beat for tie birth and death, |
the JOY end sorrow, Of his tenant-y.
Here, for two centuries, the daughters |
Of tho house mad been given in marriage, |
without spoken vow or priestly rite; but by |
gift and soag, dance and chee., began their
new career. From thence had gone out |
The father TO Ieddo or Ful1ui on public or
private busineSS-the sons for education |
md culture, the daughters for travel or re-
igious duty. These walls he'd echoed with |
songs and laughter, with cries and sobs |
Here, In time OF bereavement, in the ora
,ory OF the house where the sacred lights !
md incense burn, one after another black /
,ablet was set, gilt-lettered, to be honored |
BY later generations.
In tie path by the old shrine. made sa-
,red by the reveren5 beliefs of generations,
took my final leave of this interesting
'arnily. ] asked for menento from its
lallowcd contents, and the cx-p:incs gave
ne case of light wood, containing an
amulet written in Sanshrit and Chinese, fo:
he protection Of this ancient house: and |
Is l passed out Of the great gate, | stood
lnder a pile of charms a foot in thickness,
which had been added year by year, to
ward off sickness and harm -iielen S. Il.
Thompson in Overland Monthly.
A clam shell having been put up IN the
music hall at Boston, the newspapers OF that
esthetic center speak of il as the atone rs,